Mirror Pond Pale Ale

July 1, 2001Bend, OR

Reviewers:Fred Eckhardt - Garrett Oliver - Michael Jackson

Deschutes Brewery, Inc.
Bend, OR

Available: AL, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA, WY

The Deschutes Brewery uses flower hops exclusively. Their Mirror Pond Pale Ale is one of several beers that are dry-hopped, a process that requires an extra week of conditioning in tanks containing fresh hops.

ABW: 4.2ABV: 5Color: 14Bitterness: 40Original gravity: 1052

Great aromatics with an especially delightful and assertive hop nose. This beer has everything one could expect in an American Northwest pale ale and much more. It is dry hopped and bottle conditioned with an impressive, almost perfect, malt-hop balance. A nice Lombard-style Taleggio cheese would enhance the enjoyment of this fine beer.- Fred Eckhardt

A hazy, honey-colored beer (it’s bottle conditioned), it raises a small, pale head. The hop aroma is classic Cascade, all pine needles and grapefruit. On the palate, the beer is surprisingly restrained, with a moderate bitterness balancing a rounded, slightly sweet malt center. The finish is clean and crisp, both malt and hops lingering nicely. A pleasant, well-brewed beer that’s very drinkable and would be particularly versatile with food. A good beer to have permanently stocked in your fridge.- Garrett Oliver